Process for the manufacture of oil-varnish substitutes from animal-oils.



' he Drawing.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

WALTER KAEMPFE, OF GROSSENHAIN, GERMANY.

PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER KAEMPFE, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and residing at Grossenhain, in Saxony, .Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for the Manufacture of Oil-Varnish Substitutes from Animal-Oils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the treatment of animal oils, such as fish oil train oil or the like, for the purpose of obtaining therefrom suitable constituents for the manufacture of a linseed oil varnish substitute, using superheated steam.

The invention consists in a process in which the animal oil is first treated in a distillation retort or vessel for about two hours at a temperature of 235-240", and then subjected directly to a distillation by means of steam at about 375400, which is blown through the oil mass for about 25 30 hours. The temperature of the contents of the retort is preferably not raised above 260. After the process is finished the retorts must be emptied at oncefaccess to the air being avoided, as otherwise a gelatinizing of'the product may occur. The entire process thus consists of a physical combined with a chemical operation. 7

In the first stage the uncombined saturated acids are removed from the animal oils by means of the superheated steam, and in the second stage at a certain temperature and after a certain period the superheated steam causes a fractional decomposition, in which the glycerids of the saturated fatty acids separate out and distil over, while the glycerids of the unsaturated acids polymerize and remain in this form. The properties of the linseed oil varnish substitute obtained in this manner are as follows. The product has the odor of heavy oil and is transparent, clear, and elastic even in the cold. Its drying power is considerably higher than that of linseed oil. Deposits of any kind (fatty acids) do not occur even on cooling to 15. The product can also be .used in the making of oil' lacquers (copal lacquer) or used as a drying agent or lynoxyne substitute. The distillation products consist mainly of fatty acids and glycerin, which can be directly used in the soap and candle making industries.

Specification of Letters Patent.

OIL-VARNISH SUBSTITUTES FROM ANIMAL- OILS.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

7 Application filed July 19, 1912. Serial No. 710,423.

Several examples of the improved process will now be given. I

First example: 10 hundredwei ths of train oil with the highest possib e iodin number, are heated in the distillation vessel for two hours at a temperature of 235240. The distillation is then at once commenced by passing steam at 375-400 through the oil mass, the temperature of the contents of the retort not being allowed however to rise above 260. Particular care should be exerted in this respect. After 25 hours the operation is finished. With train oils of low iodin number the process may last 30 hours. In the first hours and up to the 20th the fatty acid distils clear and liquid, and after the 20th hour to the end of the operation the distillation becomes gradually slower, and occurs in white flakes.

Second example: The process of the present invention can be better carried out, and yields a higher output, when conducted partly under a vacuum, or at least a partial vacuum. The more rapid operation obtained with this procedure can be attributed to the fact that the glycerids distil partly undecomposed under avacuum. 5

The vacuum may be readily maintained at the same time the steam is blown through the retort for distillation purposes, provided the suction eiIect of the vacuum pump or other means for providing the vacuum is sufficient to overcome the steam inlet admission, that is to say, provided the suction carries away a larger quantity of air or steam than that which is allowed to enter the retort from the boiler in a given time. By controlling the steam inlet, the vacuum can be regulated as desired.

In carrying out the processthe temperature in the retort is maintained at 270 to 285. ture is of essential importance as if it falls below this figure the distillation is appleciably retarded and if the said temperatures are exceeded, there is a danger of approa hing too closely to the decomposition tem- *perature at which a breaking up of the varnish forming glycerids begins, so that the output is substantially diminished.

The following procedure is also of prime importance in the carrying out of the 1nvention: On removing the finished product The maintaining of this temperafrom the retort no air should be allowed to enter owing to the danger of gelatinizing. This danger is very real, because the cor-' rect instant for the interruption of the distillation is diflicult to recognize and the period of distillation fluctuates greatly owing to the different origins of the animal oils treated. According to the present invention these difficulties are obviated in the most simple manner, by adding fatty acids or their'esters to the contents of the retort while the proportion of, saturated fatty acids present therein is still small, these added substances acting as distribution or diluting agentsand being sluggishlyor not at all fluid. 1 The acids of the unsaturated series, for example linoleic acid have proved very suitable, also resin may with advantage be employed.

. Another important modification of the lmproved process consists in treating the tram oil, previously heated in any manner, with for example superheated steam of about 375 to. 400, the contents of the retort being keptat 270 to 285, and carrying on the operation not to completion, but interrupting 1t as soon as the formation of oil varnish begins. Since in,this case saturated acids are still present in the retort contents, these latter must be subjected to a subsequent heating up to 315 so that these fatty acids may still evaporate. The heavy oil becomes continuously more viscid and finally gelatinizes if the heating is too prolonged. To' avoid this contingency the necessary amount (5% upward) of fatty acids or their esters can be added during the subsequent heating, in the same way as during the distillation.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A process for the manufacture of a linseed oil varnish substitute consisting in preliminarily heating animal oils for a number of hours to a temperature of from 235 to 240 0., subjecting the oilsto distillation by means of steam at a temperature of from 375 to 400 Cfand maintaining the oil mass during such distillation below the 'decomposition temperature of the glycerids.

2. A process for the manufacture of a linseed oil varnish substitute consisting in preliminarily heating animal oils for a numberof hours to a temperature of from 235 to 240 0., subjecting the oils to distillation under vacuum by means of steam at a temperature of from 375 to 400 0., and maintaining the temperature of the oil mass during such distillation below the decomposition temperature of the glycerids.

3. A process for the manufacture of a linseed oil varnish substitute consisting in preliminarily heating animal oils for a number of hours to a temperature. of'from 235- 240 0., subjecting the oils to distillation by means of steam at a temperature of from 375 to 400 0. blown throughathe retort, maintaining the temperature of the oil mass during such distillation below the decomposition temperature of the glycerids, and adding fatty acids to the oil mass when the amount of saturated fatty acids contained therein becomes small.

4. A process for the manufacture of a linseed oil varnish substitute consisting in preliminarily heating animal oils for a number of hours to a temperature of from 235 to 240 0., subjecting the oils to distillation by means of steam at a temperature of from 375 to 400 0. blown through the retort, maintaining the temperature ofcthe oil mass 'during such distillation below the decomposition temperature of the glycerids, inter rupting the distillation when the oil mass contains saturated fatty acids and subsequently heating the contents of the retort I to atemperature of about 315 0.

- 5. A process for the manufacture of a linseed oil varnishsubstitute consisting in preliminarily heating animal oils for a number of hours to a temperature of from 235 to 240 0:, subjecting the oils to distillation under vacuum by means of steam'at a temperature of from 375-400 0. blown through the retort, maintaining the temperature of the oil massduring such distil lation below the decomposition temperature of the glycerids, interrupting the distillation when the oil mass contains saturated fatty acids, subsequently heating the con tents of the retort to a temperature of about 315 0., and adding fatty acids during such subsequent heating.

6. A process for the manufacture of a linseed oil varnish substitute consisting in preliminarily heating animal oils for several hours to a temperature of from 235 to 240 0., subjecting the oils to distillation under vacuum by means of steam at a temperature of from 375 to 400, and maintaining the temperature 'of the oil mass during such distillation at from 270 to 285.

7. A process for the manufacture of a linseed oil varnish substitute consisting in preliminarily heating animal oils for a number ofhours to a temperature of from 235 to 240 0., subjecting the oils to distillation by means of steam at a temperature of from In testimony whereof I have signed my 375 to 400, maintaining the oil mass durname to this specification in the presence ing such distillation at from 270 to 285, of two subscribing witnesses.

interrupting the distillation when the oil \VALTER KAEMPFE. 5 mass contains saturated fatty acids and Witnesses:

subsequently heating the mass to about PAUL ARRAs,

315 C. CLARE SIMON. 

